Lighted Cane With Shock Absorber

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an improvement to the standard disabled person&#39;s walking cane. A shock-absorbing system is added to the bottom end of the cane, including a rubberized tip, spacers, and a strong spring to absorb shocks encountered when the cane end encounters solid objects. 
     A sleeve to hold a flashlight with LED bulb pointed towards the ground is also provided, to aid the partially-sighted at night.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to the field of mobility canes for blind and partially-sighted individuals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The blind and partially sighted often rely on long, slender “feeler” canes, which are deployed in front of the individual as he/she walks. The purpose of these canes is to allow the visually-impaired to detect the approach of ground-level objects and surface irregularities.

Visual problems in a part of the visual field, like visual neglect or visual field loss, is a deficit shown by many stroke victims and traumatic brain injury survivors. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the western world and the most prominent cause for permanent disabilities.

The typical cane used by the partially-sighted or blind possesses a soft tip at its end. A typical example of structure of a cane is such that of an elastic member (a rubber cane tip) made of a rubber material for absorbing shocks applied to the cane when it contacts the ground. However, the elastic member constituting the cane tip is generally small in diameter or size, not providing enough shock absorption.

This means that when a person whose arm and grip strength is poor uses such a cane while walking, the cane tip can encounter a solid obstacle at foot-level that will jerk the handle of the cane out of the walker's grasp.

Hence an improved shock absorber system for such canes is indicated. Similarly, for the partially-sighted, a flashlight attached to the shaft of the cane improves visibility at ground level, helping walkers avoid foot-level obstacles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a walking cane that possesses an improved shock absorber capability for the cane tip.

It is an object of the present invention to add a flashlight-style lighting means to the shaft of the walking cane.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the new features to fit within the current configuration of walking canes with regards to weight and thickness of cane shafts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walking cane with the invention installed

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a walking cane with the invention installed

FIG. 3 is close-up view of the shock absorber tip

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the flashlight battery holder

FIG. 5 is cross-section view of the shock absorber tip

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the flashlight battery holder

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the alternate embodiment

FIG. 8 is a close-up cross-section of the alternate embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is comprised of two additions made to an industry-standard disabled person walking cane 100; an improved shock absorber system for the last section of the cane and an add-on flashlight holder for the first section.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shock absorber 101 is an addition to the last section 102 of the walking cane 100. In FIG. 3, the shock absorber 101 is comprised of a cane section 102, a plunger 103, a spring 104, a cane tip housing 105, and a cane tip 106. The cane tip 106 is held loosely in the cane tip housing 105 and the cane tip housing 105 is loosely connected to the bottom end of the plunger 103. This arrangement allows a small travel space for the cane tip 106 before it encounters the plunger 103, when the cane tip 106 is pressed from below.

The spring 104 extends long enough to allow the plunger 103 to travel up the cane section until the top of the cane tip housing 105 encounters the bottom end of the cane section 102. The spring is made from metal selected from the list of carbon steel. The plunger 103 is comprised of solid metal, ceramic, or carbon fiber the metals selected from the list of steel or aluminum.

The action of the shock absorber is that the bottom end of the cane, when extended before a walker, encounters an obstacle. The presence of the obstacle combined with the forward momentum of the walker pushes the cane tip up the cane tip 106 housing 105 until the cane tip 106 encounters the bottom end of the plunger 103.

The action of the cane tip 106 colliding with the bottom end of the plunger 103 forces the plunger 103 up the cane section 102 shaft against the resistance of the spring 104. The plunger 103 can only travel up the cane section 102 until the top of the cane tip housing 105 encounters the bottom end of the cane section 102.

The travel of the cane tip 106 and the plunger 103 against the force of the spring 104 acts as a shock absorber and reduces the jarring impact of encountering foot-level obstacles. The spring 104 returns to its full length after pressure on the cane tip 106 is removed.

In FIG. 5, the the order of the parts is cane tip 106, plunger 103, and then the spring 104 at the top. In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment is shown, where the order is cane tip 106, spring 104, and then plunger 103.

The flashlight battery holder 110 is attached fixedly to the first section 111 of the walking cane 100. The flashlight battery holder 110 is comprised of a flashlight battery sleeve 112 and an slide switch 113. Any compatibly-sized pen flashlight battery can be inserted into the flashlight sleeve 112.

In an alternate embodiment, the slide switch 113 can be replaced with a tail cap switch (not shown) and achieve the same capability.

While the foregoing describes a preferred and an alternate embodiment of the invention, variation on this design and equivalent designs may be resorted to in the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved shock absorber system for a walking cane, the walking cane comprised of multiple sections, the first section of the walking came comprising a handle, the last section of the cane comprising a hollow tube and the end of the cane closest to the ground when in use, the last section containing a shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising an addition to the hollow last section of the walking cane, the shock absorber comprised of a plunger, a spring, a cane tip housing, and a cane tip, in that order, the cane tip held loosely in the cane tip housing and the cane tip housing loosely connected to the bottom end of the plunger, allowing a small travel space for the cane tip before it encounters the plunger when the cane tip is pressed from below, the spring connected loosely to the upper end of the plunger and compressed by the motion of the plunger against the top of the last section of the cane.
 2. An improved shock absorber system for a walking cane, the walking cane comprised of multiple sections, the first section of the walking came comprising a handle, the last section of the cane comprising a hollow tube and the end of the cane closest to the ground when in use, the last section containing a shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising an addition to the hollow last section of the walking cane, where the shock absorber is comprised of a plunger, a spring, a cane tip housing, and a cane tip, in that order, where said cane tip is connected loosely to the spring, which in turn is connected loosely to the plunger, which is loosely connected to the top of the last section of the cane, the spring compressed by the motion of the cane tip against the bottom of the plunger.
 3. An improved shock absorber system as in claim 1 where there is an add-on flashlight battery holder for the first section of said cane, the flashlight battery holder a hollow, cylindrical receptacle attached fixedly to the first section of the cane, the receptacle diameter sized to accept the body of an off-the-shelf flashlight battery, the flashlight battery holder connected loosely to a slide switch which is connected adjustably to the first section of said cane. 